Latest news with #Haggis
The Courier
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Animal weddings: Your guide to including them on your big day in and around Dundee, Fife and Perth
Animals can add a unique, memorable touch to a wedding, whether it's a case of bringing the family pet or inviting other creatures. Popular choices include dogs, ponies, birds of prey, and of course alpacas. If you're desperate to take your beloved dog, then you need to consider a few things such as: what happens when Fido needs to do his business? That's when a service like dog chaperoning comes in handy. Perth-based dog wedding chaperone Laura Findlay has been making couples' dreams come true across Scotland since she set up her business, Solo Paws, in 2023. Her mission is to offer a personalised service to wedding couples, whether simply to bring pets along for the photo shoot, festoon them in special wedding attire, or look after them before, during and after the ceremony. Laura can be involved as much or as little as the couple want. Her lowest price is £50 and this can rise to a few hundred pounds depending on the service. She can walk the dog, give it a wash, tart it up, put on a wee bandana, bow-tie or a special collar with a wooden heart. Imagine having miniature Shetland ponies at your wedding! Haggis and Squiggles, from Blairgowrie-based Alba Therapy Ponies, have been invited to their first wedding in September. Their owners, Alex Barr and Drew Myers, said while the cute equines will be 'confetti ponies' at the ceremony, they'll then be available for 'pony enrichment sessions' with children. 'Our two superstar ponies Haggis and Squiggles wear flower arrangements on their backs, and wicker baskets filled with confetti for guests to throw,' said Alex. 'They can also carry bottles of prosecco or beer. They act as 'four-legged waiters' when they mingle over cocktail hour to distribute drinks. 'Children at the weddings can also learn how to groom and care for them.' 'We're marketing the ponies for weddings and hope to have some more last minute bookings this summer,' added Alex. Owls can be used as ring-bearers indoors, while other birds of prey may be lined up for outdoor ceremonies. Guests could be welcomed by majestic birds perched at the entrance, and enjoy interactive flying experiences. Elite Falconry based at Cluny Mains Farm, near Kirkcaldy, offer various wedding packages. These include getting an eagle or owl to fly over the head of guests to deliver the rings and to the (pre-trained) best man. They also offer an 'eagle cam', where an eagle wearing a small camera soars above the venue capturing footage of guests arriving.
The National
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Plenty of Scottish heroics in May, both home and abroad
Welcome to our new free newsletter celebrating all that is going well in Scotland! Subscribe using the banner above. I THINK we could all learn a thing or two from Hiroshi Suzuki. The Japanese ambassador to the UK visited Scotland in May, including official meetings with the First Minister and the Presiding Office. But he also took to some tourist hotspots in Edinburgh, and partook in some Scottish delicacies, joking at one point that he had eaten some Tunnock's teacakes "for breakfast". In a video posted on social media, he could also be seen trying Haggis and a dram of whisky, which he said he "enjoyed". "It's fantastic!" he added, with a thumbs up to the camera. It's Suzuki's boundless optimism that has made him a viral social media star. And perhaps we can all take a leaf out of that book. And so, on that note, our positive stories in Scotland in May. First up, I always love to see Scots thriving abroad. And last month, you can look no further than footballer Scott McTominay (below). The Scotland international is a literal hero in Naples after his instrumental role in helping Napoli FC to their fourth ever Serie A title. Crowned as the whole league's player of the season, the streets of Naples were literally draped in saltires and graffiti of the man they now call 'McFratm' – or McBro. He even met the pope (above)! On the more cultural side, a Scottish director's film set during the Highland Clearances has also made waves at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Ian Gordon, from Fife, travelled to the internationally renowned film festival in France to promote his fantasy adventure movie, The Gudeman, where he learnt to build animatronic 'creatures' from scratch. And people working in the film industry from around the world were blown away at the festival by the dramatic scenery of the Highlands, which provides the backdrop for his adventure. As they should! I was also pleased to hear Edinburgh is now home to Europe's first museum of contemporary Palestinian art. The Palestine Museum in Scotland features work from a range of Palestinian artists showcasing paintings, sculptures and installations. The museum aims to counteract the 'dehumanisation' of the Palestinian people by illustrating their culture and narrative through art. I mentioned it will be opening in my last newsletter but it is now open for business. I am yet to visit but my colleague, Laura, said it was deeply moving. In business news, the UK's only female-founded wave energy company has secured more than half a million in funding to scale up its technology. Aberdeen-based ZOEX secured £531,000 in funding including investment from Equity Gap, one of Scotland's leading angel investment syndicates, Strathclyde University and Scottish Enterprise. Founded by entrepreneur, CEO Ash Penley (above), ZOEX aims to replace diesel generators with "clean, cost-effective wave power". While I understand Scotland's fishing industry isn't best pleased by the new UK-EU deal governing post-Brexit arrangements, I was heartened to see some positive movements. For example, while a return to freedom of movement has frustratingly been ruled out by Labour, they have agreed to look at a limited scheme aimed at young people. The UK rejoining the Erasmus+ scheme, which sees students do part of their degree at an institution abroad, is also floated in the deal. If finalised, this would be a win for young Scots. If there's anything you think should be included, please don't hesitate to ping me an email:
The National
29-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Japanese ambassador pictured eating Haggis in Scotland visit
During his visit to the country this week, Hiroshi Suzuki has attended meetings at Holyrood and visited various tourist hotspots in the capital. Suzuki announced he had arrived in Scotland by sharing a picture in front of Edinburgh Castle, where he was seen posing with a soft toy of Paddington Bear, which often features on his social media. (Image: @AmbJapanUK, via Twitter/X) The ambassador has met with Holyrood's Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, where he said the pair "enjoyed fruitful discussions on a wide range of topics". READ MORE: Best takeaways in Scotland named in Deliveroo 2025 awards – see full list He also attended a cross-parliamentary group meeting on Japan on Wednesday. (Image: @AmbJapanUK, via Twitter/X) Delighted to attend @ScotParl Cross-Party Group meeting on Japan. Glad to deepen understanding of Scottish Gov's initiatives for @expo2025japan and have a fruitful discussion on strengthening relations between 🇯🇵 & 🏴 — Hiroshi Suzuki (@AmbJapanUK) May 28, 2025 Suzuki has also shared his "delight" in visiting the Adam Smith House in Edinburgh, the former residence of the Scottish economist which has since been repurposed into a research institute. READ MORE: Spike in Google searches for 'TRNSMT refund' after Kneecap axed And the ambassador has also partaken in some Scottish delicacies, joking on Thursday morning that he had eaten some Tunnock's teacakes "for breakfast". Tea cakes for breakfast!😋 — Hiroshi Suzuki (@AmbJapanUK) May 29, 2025 In a video posted on social media, Suzuki could also be seen trying Haggis and a dram of whisky, which he said he "enjoyed". "It's fantastic!" he added, with a thumbs up to the camera. While on his visit to Scotland, Suzuki is set to meet with First Minister John Swinney. When the visit was announced last week, Swinney said on Twitter/X: "Looking forward to welcoming you @AmbJapanUK to Bute House and to our wonderful country next week."
American Military News
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- American Military News
Rape case against Paul Haggis in Italy is dismissed. His US lawyer suggests it was a setup
A rape case against 'Crash' Oscar winner Paul Haggis was dismissed Wednesday in Italy. On Thursday, his U.S. attorney suggested that the Italian allegations were planned to hurt his chances in a New York civil case that cost him $10 million. A judge in the Italian city of Brindisi ruled that no sex acts took place without consent, Haggis' lawyers told Reuters on Wednesday. The woman had accused the writer-director of raping her repeatedly over the course of two days in 2022 while they were both in town for Allora Fest, an entertainment-industry event. 'For Mr. Haggis, it is the end of a nightmare that has unfairly shattered the career of a film genius and 2006 Oscar winner,' lawyers Michele Laforgia and Daniele Romeo said in a statement to the wire service. After the criminal allegations were made, Haggis was detained by police in June, then held under house arrest at his hotel until he was ordered released on July 4, 2022. He maintained he was innocent of the charges. 'Being accused of sexual violence, something that I did not do, was devastating and something I hope no innocent person will ever experience,' Haggis said in a translated interview with Italian news outlet La Repubblica in July 2022. An Englishwoman who was 30 at the time said he forced her to have sex with him over two days at a bed-and-breakfast in Puglia and then dropped her off at a nearby airport while she was in a state of confusion. 'As I told the judge, my first mistake was allowing someone who I hardly knew to come and visit me. It was foolish,' Haggis said in the July 12, 2022, interview. 'The second mistake was on the last morning after an incident occurred that I personally found particularly unpleasant, I decided to end this situation; I took this person to the airport hours before her flight. I'm upset with myself for these errors in judgment but cannot comprehend that they resulted in false and damaging accusations against me.' The 'Million Dollar Baby' writer said in the interview that he lost at least two writing jobs because of his arrest. On Thursday, the attorney who represented him in the October 2022 New York civil case said the Italian case may have been aimed at sabotaging her client before that trial began. 'It was always obvious that Paul was completely innocent [in the Italian case] — and that this woman lied,' attorney Priya Chaudhry said in a statement to The Times. 'The timing of the lie, and the inevitability that it would be exposed, strongly suggest her false accusation was planned to sabotage Paul's other case on the eve of trial — deliberately engineered to inflict maximum damage and sway media and public opinion. 'Everyone should now question the credibility of a verdict delivered in the shadow of a false criminal allegation — one strategically timed to generate global headlines, inflame public opinion, and irreparably taint the course of justice.' Haggis was found liable in the New York case and ordered to pay $10 million to Haleigh Breest, a former publicist who worked the red carpets at movie premieres in the early 2010s. Breest accepted a ride home from Haggis after a premiere in January 2013 and agreed to go to his apartment for a drink instead of her suggestion that they go to a bar. She accused him of making her perform oral sex and then raping her. Haggis maintains that the encounter was consensual. He was not criminally charged. Chaudhry also told The Times in a statement in 2022 that a fair trial for Haggis was 'impossible' once the judge admitted the statements of four additional women — three of whom didn't appear in court — who didn't go to the police with their complaints. 'I can't live with lies like this. I will die clearing my name,' Haggis said as he left court after the verdict, the Associated Press reported at the time. A civil suit filed by Haggis before Breest filed her claim alleged that she and her attorney had attempted to extort $9 million in 'hush money' over what the director said was a false rape claim. An appeals court judge threw out Haggis' case in July 2018, saying it had no specific allegation that Breest threatened to go public with her claim if she weren't paid. The director abandoned his appeal of the decision in March 2019. ___ © 2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rape case against Paul Haggis in Italy is dismissed. His U.S. lawyer suggests it was a setup
A rape case against "Crash" Oscar winner Paul Haggis was dismissed Wednesday in Italy. On Thursday, his U.S. attorney suggested that the Italian allegations were planned to hurt his chances in a New York civil case that cost him $10 million. A judge in the Italian city of Brindisi ruled that no sex acts took place without consent, Haggis' lawyers told Reuters on Wednesday. The woman had accused the writer-director of raping her repeatedly over the course of two days in 2022 while they were both in town for Allora Fest, an entertainment-industry event. Read more: Paul Haggis found liable in rape case; hit with $7.5-million judgment and more to come "For Mr. Haggis, it is the end of a nightmare that has unfairly shattered the career of a film genius and 2006 Oscar winner," lawyers Michele Laforgia and Daniele Romeo said in a statement to the wire service. After the criminal allegations were made, Haggis was detained by police in June, then held under house arrest at his hotel until he was ordered released on July 4, 2022. He maintained he was innocent of the charges. 'Being accused of sexual violence, something that I did not do, was devastating and something I hope no innocent person will ever experience,' Haggis said in a translated interview with Italian news outlet La Repubblica in July 2022. An Englishwoman who was 30 at the time said he forced her to have sex with him over two days at a bed-and-breakfast in Puglia and then dropped her off at a nearby airport while she was in a state of confusion. 'As I told the judge, my first mistake was allowing someone who I hardly knew to come and visit me. It was foolish,' Haggis said in the July 12, 2022, interview. 'The second mistake was on the last morning after an incident occurred that I personally found particularly unpleasant, I decided to end this situation; I took this person to the airport hours before her flight. I'm upset with myself for these errors in judgment but cannot comprehend that they resulted in false and damaging accusations against me.' Read more: How Sean 'Diddy' Combs allegedly used his empire and employees to 'get his way' with women The "Million Dollar Baby" writer said in the interview that he lost at least two writing jobs because of his arrest. On Thursday, the attorney who represented him in the October 2022 New York civil case said the Italian case may have been aimed at sabotaging her client before that trial began. "It was always obvious that Paul was completely innocent [in the Italian case] — and that this woman lied," attorney Priya Chaudhry said in a statement to The Times. "The timing of the lie, and the inevitability that it would be exposed, strongly suggest her false accusation was planned to sabotage Paul's other case on the eve of trial — deliberately engineered to inflict maximum damage and sway media and public opinion. "Everyone should now question the credibility of a verdict delivered in the shadow of a false criminal allegation — one strategically timed to generate global headlines, inflame public opinion, and irreparably taint the course of justice.' Haggis was found liable in the New York case and ordered to pay $10 million to Haleigh Breest, a former publicist who worked the red carpets at movie premieres in the early 2010s. Breest accepted a ride home from Haggis after a premiere in January 2013 and agreed to go to his apartment for a drink instead of her suggestion that they go to a bar. She accused him of making her perform oral sex and then raping her. Haggis maintains that the encounter was consensual. He was not criminally charged. Read more: Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life for rapes Chaudhry also told The Times in a statement in 2022 that a fair trial for Haggis was 'impossible' once the judge admitted the statements of four additional women — three of whom didn't appear in court — who didn't go to the police with their complaints. 'I can't live with lies like this. I will die clearing my name,' Haggis said as he left court after the verdict, the Associated Press reported at the time. A civil suit filed by Haggis before Breest filed her claim alleged that she and her attorney had attempted to extort $9 million in 'hush money' over what the director said was a false rape claim. An appeals court judge threw out Haggis' case in July 2018, saying it had no specific allegation that Breest threatened to go public with her claim if she weren't paid. The director abandoned his appeal of the decision in March 2019. Sign up for Indie Focus, a weekly newsletter about movies and what's going on in the wild world of cinema. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
